Global e-commerce giant Amazon has been served with a formal legal notice by a prominent Jewish civil rights organisation in the United States. The notice warns that the sale of an upcoming book listed on Amazon's platform could potentially breach stringent federal sanctions laws.
What is the Legal Notice About?
The National Jewish Advocacy Center (NJAC) has formally notified Amazon that it may be violating US law by listing and preparing to sell a forthcoming book authored by Francesca Albanese. Albanese, an Italian human rights lawyer who serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories, was designated as a Specially Designated National (SDN) by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in July 2025.
Mark Goldfeder, the head of NJAC, announced the action on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). "Today we issued notice to Amazon and others about potential sanctions-violations connected to @FranceskAlbs new book," he stated. The hardcover book, scheduled for an April release, is already listed in the human rights category on Amazon and is reportedly tagged as a bestseller in that segment.
Why is the Book's Sale a Potential Legal Problem?
The core legal argument presented by Goldfeder is not about the book's content but about conducting business with a sanctioned individual. In the legal notice sent to Amazon and other distributors, he clarified that the issue is not censorship. Instead, the focus is on whether US companies can legally engage in transactions that provide economic benefit to someone on the SDN list.
The notice explains that under US law, all property and interests in property of SDNs are blocked. US persons and companies are generally prohibited from transferring funds or providing services to them without explicit authorization from OFAC. Goldfeder argues that by promoting and selling Albanese's publications, Amazon's platform "directly enhances her revenue and confers a financial benefit." This activity, he contends, falls outside protections typically afforded to informational materials and could expose the retail behemoth to significant civil penalties.
"The failure to obtain a license prior to transacting with an SDN is a violation of IEEPA," Goldfeder wrote, referencing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. He detailed that the prohibition extends to royalties, advances, and any form of indirect facilitation.
Who is Francesca Albanese?
Francesca Albanese is the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian territories, a role that has placed her at the centre of international controversy. She has drawn fierce criticism from Israel and the US for her reports and statements, in which she has accused Israel of actions amounting to genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism. Both nations have rejected these claims as false and antisemitic.
The US sanctioned Albanese in July 2025, with officials alleging she improperly coordinated with the International Criminal Court and engaged in acts of political and economic warfare against the US and Israel. The book in question, titled "When the World Sleeps: Stories, Words, and Wounds of Palestine," is a collection of essays and personal reflections on Israeli policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The legal standoff highlights the complex intersection of international law, free speech, and economic sanctions. It poses a significant challenge for platforms like Amazon, which must navigate global legal frameworks while operating a marketplace for ideas. The outcome could set a precedent for how US sanctions are applied to the publishing industry and the commercial activities of designated individuals worldwide.
